Father/son nursing duo
The most recent study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing indicates that only about 9% of registered nurses (RNs) are male, up slightly from about 7% in 2013, according to a news release.
In recognition of Father’s Day, BayCare Health System wanted to spotlight the father/son nursing duo of Jim Wilson and Ryan Wilson.
Jim has been a nurse since 1992 and an RN in the surgery department at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, where he has worked since 2010.
Ryan is an RN in the interventional radiology department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa. He has been a nurse for seven years, with five of those years at St. Joseph’s.
Both father and son went into nursing as career changes.
Keeping it all in the family, Susan Wilson (wife and mother) was a registered nurse for 20 years, and Susan’s mother also was a nurse.
Ryan is mechanically inclined and hands-on, so being an interventional radiology nurse suits him.
Earlier this year, both father and son were honored by their respective hospitals within weeks of each other.
Jim was awarded a Clinical Nurse Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ryan was named Team Member of the Month (May).
New executive director
The Alliance for Healthy Communities (AHC) has welcomed Dr. Lauren Bates as its new incoming executive director.
Bates is a lifelong advocate of health and wellness and will be a tremendous asset to the families of Pasco County, said Chrissie Parris, AHC president, in a news release.
Bates earned her undergraduate degree from Xavier University in pedagogy and education, with a minor in Spanish.
She holds a master’s degree in environmental science, policy and geography from the University of South Florida, and went on to earn her Ph.D., from Ohio State University.
Prior to joining the Alliance for Healthy Communities, Bates served as the national director of research and data at a nonprofit for youth and their families, and served as the principal investigator and supervisor for health and wellness projects with multiple agencies at the federal and state levels.
The AHC is the umbrella organization that hosts the Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention (ASAP) coalition and STAND Above the Influence youth coalition, and was formed to expand these programs.
For questions, comments or concerns, or to reach out to Bates, email .
